Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the inclusion of No. 2 on the Order Paper today and thank the Leader for organising a debate on the very damning report from Ms Justice Laffoy on the Government's handling of the whole child abuse saga. Is the Leader making provision at the end of the debate for a brief question and answer session where Members can put questions directly to the Minister in charge as happened in the other House yesterday evening? It would be useful if that could be organised. It is worth noting that we are spending a greater period today debating this matter than the other House did yesterday. A report so critical of the Government's handling of this entire issue should be debated fulsomely in the House. I ask that a question and answer session be included, if at all possible.

I want to raise with the Leader the issue of electronic voting. Before we go beyond the point of no return, it is very important that the Government, through the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, makes a statement in this House today because, while many of us are in favour of the principle of electronic voting and want to see it introduced, it is vital that there is cross-party confidence and support in the process. It is unbelievable that the Minister sponsoring the measure is himself director of elections for the main Government party in this year's local government elections. That is unacceptable — it would not happen in Bolivia or Haiti.